The Scottish Hydro Premier Division Trophy will be taken to The Stadium, Dunoon this weekend as a win for either Kyles Athletic or Newtonmore will see them crowned champions. These old foes have led the way in shinty’s top division for most of the season and Newtonmore currently lead Kyles by one point. However this is their final match whilst the men from Tighnabruaich have one more game to play; against Kingussie in a week’s time. Saturday’s permutations are simple enough. A win for either side will see them clinch the title at the final whistle. A draw will still see Kyles trail ‘More by a point ahead of Kingussie’s visit a week later. Kyles Athletic and Newtonmore are level on goal difference but Kyles have the advantage in the number of goals scored. Therefore, in the event of a draw, they would require a point from the Kingussie game to finish top of shinty’s top division for the first time. Kyles’ Grant Irvine missed the recent Shinty / Hurling international series with a knee injury and he remains a major doubt. However Newtonmore to be at full strength with Fraser MacKintosh taking up his customary position in defence after he was forced to come off early in the win over Kilmallie a fortnight ago with a back injury. Should the pitch at Dunoon, which hosted the 2006 Camanachd Cup Final, prove unplayable, the agreed first choice back-up is Tighnabruaich or Taynuilt and the second choice back-up is the Dell, Kingussie.

Oban Camanachd v Kilmallie

Oban Camanachd and Kilmallie meet at Mossfield. The task facing the home side is to win by seven clear goals to avoid relegation to Marine Harvest South Division 1 at the expense of Inveraray. Oban Camanachd will rely on Scottish internationals Gavin Stobbart and Daniel Cameron to keep the back door closed as they go in hunt for the goals that will preserve their top flight status. The Oban side survived the drop in their last game of the 2010 shinty season but this looks to be a much more difficult task. Kilmallie continue to be without the suspended Michael Rodger but Euan Stoddart returns to the side after a period working off-shore. An unplayable Mossfield will result in a switch to either Taynuilt or Yoker. The BughtPark, Inverness is the second back-up choice.